Nárcisztika a politikában

Abstract

Political NarcissismFacebook is an ideal field for all forms of political narcissism. The variations range from a simple obsession with the self – which is the best-known expressive mode of narcissism – to tense compensation of self-hate. The classic narcissistic user is that who schematically hunts for likes in a fashionable hairstyle, with fashionable accessories, with fashionably cute children in a fashionable holiday spot, hiding in his/her own opinion bubble, erasing all opposing opinions. However, Facebook is also a daily field of interaction, in which debate partners and opposing opinions appear. For the atypical narcissistic user a countering opinion is a form of self-confirmation: despite all “attacks” I am right and all enemies can be defeated or erased. The elections and the currently unfolding war have fortified both types of narcissism. Professional politicians, on Facebook – independent of their private personalities – are forced to appear narcissistic in either forceful or refined ways, this being a necessity of their calling. The analyst-type users – or those who present themselves that way – are in a more complicated situation. In this circle, the most affirming partner is one who comments with an opposing opinion. One can communicate an intellectual advantage over such partners using a so-called sense of reality derived from more education, or communicating an advantage in terms of grammar and use of language. The person writing the opposing opinion – depending on the topic – can be seen as uneducated, biased or a paid troll, who by the very act of posting their countering opinion confirms that the “analyst” is an exceptional individual. And is, of course, right.

Keywords

• politics